Typewriter front-feed attachment



Jan. 17, 1956 w, HASELMElER 2,731,125

TYPEWRITER FRONT-FEED ATTACHMENT Filed March 11, 1952 IN VE N TOR WALTER HASELMEIE United States Patent F TYPEWRITER FRONT FEED' ATTACHMENT Walter Haselmeier, Chur, Switzerland Application March 11', 1952,.Serial No. 275,879

Claims priority, application Switzerland-May 2,- 1951 12 Claims. (Cl..1971..28)

My present-invention relates to'an auxiliary front feed attachment for typewriting business machines, and is pri-' marily intended for carrying out book-keeping operations; The main object of my present invention is to provide means permitting of properly introducing, in a comparatively simple manner, a from sheet which is to be written on. a

I attain this and related objects with the aid of the typewriter book-keeping attachment shown,- by way of example, in the accompanying drawing, in Which-.-

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a portionof typewriter, known per se, provided with the attachment,

Fig. 2 drawn to a larger scale represents a cross-section through the upper paper guide, and

Fig. 3 shows a portion of theguide plate in coaction with a fixed stop.

The carriage 1, which is movably guided on the typewriter frame, carries the platen 2 which is rotatable by means of two knobs 3, the sheet guide 4- (Fig. 2) associated with the lower platen zone, and thesheet-engaging and sheet-feeding rollers 5 and 6. Asknown in the art, the latter through spring-loaded arms are supported on a common axle pin 7 and are swingable via an auxiliary arm (not shown) which is fixed to the shaft 8 and connected to an operating lever. The sheet guide 4 is guided vertically movably (not shown) on a rod9.

An upright 10 is rigidly secured to both ends of the carriage 1, only the left-hand upright being visible in Fig. 1. Each upright 10 carries a horizontal pin 11 to receive a supporting crossbar which comprises a center piece 12 which through its bent-offend pieces is riveted to two arms 13. The latter, of which 'only'one is visible in Fig. I, serve for detachably connecting the crossbar 12, 13 to the said two horizontal pins 11. For such purpose, the arm 13 shown has a hole 14 (Fig. 2) for engaging the pin 11, whilst the second arm 13 (not shown) is recessed for engaging the second pin 11 (not shown) and has a pawl to be engaged with said pin in a notch provided thereon.

The web 12 of the cross bar has a lower portion which is bent-off forwardly so as to form two supporting lugs 15 of which only the left-hand one is visible in-Fig. 1. Two parallel rods 16, 17 are mounted in the two lugs 15 in parallel relation to'the platen 2. On each of the rods 16, 17 a feed roller 18 is mounted axially movable but non-rotatable. The numeral 19 designates a rearwall of that sheet-guide portion which is movable longitudinally of platen 2, being guided on the rods 16, 17 through brackets 21 which are secured to its: side-Walls 20. Between the two brackets 21 are disposed the-two rollers 18 which are of suitable length and which thus partake of the movements of slide 19-21. The latter comprises moreover two front wall portions 22, 23 made of transparent material. Between these twoportions a central space-is left free, and the portions in a downward direction approach the rear wall 19. To the left-hand bracket 21 (Fig. 1) is rigidly secured an upwardly projecting grip 24 which. serves for moving the. slide.19-2 1. The, lat: ter is braced. on the upper edge. of, the cross bar web 12 2,731,125 i 'atehtd Jan. 17, 1956 by means of a top roller 25' (Fig. '2). To the right-hand ends (Fig. 1) ofthe rods 16, 17" are secured toothed wheels (not shown) which mesh with each other. The toothed wheel of the front rod 17 also meshes with a drive pinion 26 to which is-securedaknob27 by meansof which the two feed rollers lswmay be simultaneously rotated.

On the typewriter frame is provided a fixed stop 28 formed by an angle and situated-within the range of, a part 29, which carries the conventional line scale, one leg of the angle stop 28 being rigidlysecured to said'part 29 or another-part. In Fig.1; the numeral'30 designates the ribbon close to the operating range of which the stop 28 is disposed. The freeendjof the latter, which is turned away from the platen 2, coactswith the lower longitudinal edge of a paper guide plate 31; which is elongated inthe direction of the platen. The saidlower longitudinal edge of paper guide plate 31 comprises astraight portion 32 (Fig. 3) which via an inclinedportion 33 is connectedto a portion 34. The latter is set back from and much shorter than the portion 32 and extends parallel'thereto. The angle enclosed by the two marginal portions 33, 34 is equal to thatenclosed by-the two legs of the anglestop 28. The guide plate 31 which on its rear side has 'a line mark or control line 35, through its upper longitudinal margin is secured to a central piece 36 which, together with two side arms 37; forms a swing bracket. The arms 37 of the latter'are pivoted on screws 38 to the arms 13 of the cross bar 12, 13.

Fig. 2 shows, in solid lines, that position of'theswingable guide plate in which the plate 31 is supported on the stop 28 through its lower marginal portion 32, and in dash-and-dot lines that position of the guide plate in which the plate 31 is supported on the stop 28 through its lower marginal portion34. In the firstposition, the lower edge of the plate '31 is spaced a considerable distance from the platen 2, but in-the second position only a little space is left between the guide plate and platen, so that at this point only a gap is left, namely an entrance for passing the sheet therethrough. The cross bar 12, 13 as shown in Fig, 2is supported-ontheplaten 2 through a roller 39 which isrotat-ably mountedon the rear side of the web12.

Two superposed, book-keeping sheets, a and b are applied to the platen 2, as shownin Fig. 2, of which a rep resents for example a journal sheet, and b an account sheet. These two sheets pass underneath the supporting roller 39. Within the range of platen 2', the sheets a and b are blanketedby a front aceount'sheet c which bears on the rear wall 19 ofslide 19-21'which servesas a guide for the sheet 0 on introducing the same and also afterward, and passes between the, two feed rollers 18. For copying purposes, carbon sheets (not shown) are dis posed bet-ween the three, bookkeeping sheets a-c. To introduce the front sheet a, the guide plate 31 has to occupy the position shown in Fig, 2- in dash-and-dot lines in which its lower marginal portion 321's disposed close to the adjacent front margin of the lower sheet guide 4-, which facilitates the proper introduction of the sheet 0. Such positionof the guide plate,31 is automatically given when the carriage 1 occupies a corresponding position in its track so that the 'p1ate 31 throughits set-back lower margin 34 is seated: on thestop 28. Such is the case in the right-hand terminal position (-Fig. 1") of carriage 1. In this position, the plate 31 in the-zone. of its lower margin 34; leaves free a typing field for the type-levers 40. Within the range of such field; the left-hand margin of the base or journalsheet a and also of'the account sheet b of which the margin is set back from that of sheet a may be typed upon by the type-levers.

When the carriage 2' .is moved; from the initial position with respect to Fig. 1 to the left, the, inclined marginal portion 33 of plate 31 abuts against the fixed stop 28 so that the plate 31 and its swing bracket 36, 37 is swung from the lower position shown in dash-and-dot lines in Fig. 2 to the upper position shown in solid lines. In such latter position, the plate is ineffective, and its lower margin is situated entirely outside the track of the type-levers 40.

The slide 19, 21 movable on the carrier cross bar i2, 13 may be set, longitudinally of web 12, alternatively to either of two relative positions, according to which setting position, With respect to its column, is desired for the front book-keeping sheet c relatively to the columns of the two other book-keeping sheets I) and a. Such setting allows of performing book-keeping operations according to a particular system. For the purpose of alternatively setting the slide 19-21 in the sense described, a hinged spacing rod (not shown) is disposed on the rear side of web 12. Said spacing rod contains notches for engaging the free end of the pin which carries the guide roller 25 (Fig. 2). By depressing a knob 41 shown in Fig. 1, said spacing rod may be swung downwardly so as to disengage the said pin therefrom, whereupon the slide 19-21 through a tension spring is moved from one setting position to the other. The slide li -21 by means of grip 24 provided thereon, may be moved in a direction opposite to the direction of said movement.

The attachment described may be mounted not only on existing typewriters but also on other business machines adapted for typewriting operations. The attachment may be readily removed when not used.

The details of the attachment may be modified, of course. In certain cases, only the vertically movable guide plate 31 may be used, which co-acts with the fixed stop 28.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a typewriter having a frame, a shiftable carriage and a rotatable platen mounted on the carriage for movement therewith, in combination, support means mounted on the carriage; an elongated sheet guide plate pivotally mounted on said support means for turning about an axis parallel to the axis of the platen, said sheet guide plate being arranged in front of the platen spaced therefrom and extending in the direction of the length thereof, said guide plate being turnable about its pivot axis between a raised inoperative position with its lower edge spaced from said platen and a lowered operative position with its lower edge closely adjacent to the platen for guiding the bottom edge of a sheet placed between said guide plate and the platen against and under the same so as to slide the sheet into writing position, the lower edge of said sheet guide plate being of stepped form and including a lower bottom edge portion, a higher bottom edge portion and a connecting edge portion extending between said bottom edge portions and arranged at obtuse angles thereto; and an elongated member fixed relative to the typewriter frame arranged below and in contact with said stepped lower edge of said sheet guide plate and coacting therewith for turning said sheet guide plate about its pivot axis automatically between the operative and inoperative positions thereof during movement of said sheet guide plate with the carriage while the latter is being shifted.

2. In a typewriter having a frame, a shiftable carriage and a rotatable platen mounted on the carriage for movement therewith, in combination, support means mounted on the carriage; elongated sheet guide means pivotally mounted on said support means for turning about an axis parallel to the axis of the platen, said sheet guide means being arranged in front of the platen spaced therefrom and extending in the direction of the length thereof, said guide means being turnable about its pivot axis between a raised inoperative position with its lower edge spaced from said platen and a lowered operative position with its lower edge closely adjacent to the platen for guiding the bottom edge of a sheet placed between said guide means and the platen against and under the same so as to slide the sheet into writing position; first actuating means on said sheet guide means movable therewith; second actuating means fixed relative to the typewriter frame coacting with said first actuating means on said sheet guide means for turning said sheet guide means about its pivot axis automatically between the operative and inoperative positions thereof during movement of said sheet guide means with the carriage while the latter is being shifted; and sheet carrier means mounted on said suport means above the platen rearward of said sheet guide means for carrying the upper portion of a sheet having its bottom edge placed between said sheet guide means and the platen.

3, In a typewriter having a frame, a shiftable carriage and a rotatable platen mounted on the carriage for movement therewith, in combination, support means mounted on the carriage; elongated sheet guide means pivotally mounted on said support means for turning about an axis parallel to the axis of the platen, said sheet guide means being arranged in front of the platen spaced therefrom and extending in the direction of the length thereof, said guide means being turnable about its pivot axis between a raised inoperative position with its lower edge spaced from said platen and a lowered operative position with its lower edge closely adjacent to the platen for guiding the bottom edge of a sheet placed between said guide means and the platen against and under the same so as to slide the sheet into writing position; first actuating means on said sheet guide means movable therewith; second actuating means fixed relative to the typewriter frame coacting with said first actuating means on said sheet guide means for turning said sheet guide means about its pivot axis automatically between the operative and inoperative positions thereof during movement of said sheet guide means with the carriage while the latter is being shifted; and sheet carrier means mounted on said support means above the platen rearward of said sheet guide means for carrying the upper portion of a sheet having its bottom edge placed between said sheet guide means and the platen, said carrier means being axially movable along the length of the platen for arranging a sheet adapted to be carried thereby in different writing positions axially spaced along the platen.

4. In a typewriter having a frame, a shiftable carriage and a rotatable platen mounted on the carriage for movement therewith, in combination, support means mounted on the carriage; elongated sheet guide means pivotally mounted on said support means for turning about an axis parallel to the axis of the platen, said sheet guide means being arranged in front of the platen spaced therefrom and extending in the direction of the length thereof, said guide means being turnable about its pivot axis between a raised inoperative position with its lower edge spaced from said platen and a lowered operative position with its lower edge closely adjacent to the platen for guiding the bottom edge of a sheet placed between said guide means and the platen against and under the same so as to slide the sheet into writing position; first actuating means on said sheet guide means movable therewith; second actuating means fixed relative to the typewriter frame coacting with said first actuating means on said sheet guide means for turning said sheet guide means about its pivot axis automatically between the operative and inoperative positions thereof during movement of said sheet guide means with the carriage while the latter is being shifted; sheet carrier means mounted on said support means above the platen rearward of said sheet guide means for carrying the upper portion of a sheet having its bottom edge placed between said sheet guide means and the platen, the bottom edge of said carrier means being disposed adjacent the upper front portion of the platen; and sheet feed means mounted on said support means arranged adjacent and extending along the bottom edge of said sheet carrier means for conducting the sheet adapted to, be carried by said carrier meansbetween the platen and said sheet guide means.

5. In a. typewriter having a frame, a shiftable carriage anda. rotatable. platen mounted on .the carriage for movement therewith, in combination, supportmeansmounted on the carriage; elongated sheet guidemeans pivotally mounted on said support means for turning. about an axis parallel to the axis of the platen, said sheet guide means being arranged in front of .the platen spaced therefrom and extending in the direction of the length thereof, said guide means being turnable about its pivot axis between a raised inoperative. position with its lower edge spaced'from said platen. and a lowered operative position with its lower edge closely adjacent to the platen for guiding thebottorn edge of a sheet placed. between said guidemeans. and the platenagainst and under the same so asto slide the sheet into writing position; firstactuating means on said sheetguide means movable therewith; second actuating means fixed. relativeto the typewriter frame coacting with said firstactuating means on said sheet guide means for turningsaidsheet. guide means about its pivot axis automatically. between the operative and inoperative positions thereof during movement of said sheet guide means with thecarriage while the latter is being shifted; sheet carrier means mounted on said support means above the platen rearward of said. sheet guide means for carrying the upper portion of a sheet having its bottom edge placed between said sheet guide means and the platen, said carrier means being axially movable along the length of'the platen for arranging a sheet adapted to becarried thereby in different writing positions axially spaced along the platen, thev bottom edge of said carrier means being disposed adjacent the upper front portion of the platen; and sheet feed'means mounted on said support means arranged adjacent and extending along the bottom edge of said sheet carrier means for conducting the sheet adapted to be carriedlby said carrier means between the platen and said sheet guide means.

6'. In a typewriter having a frame, a shiftable carriage anda rotatable platen" mounted on the carriage for movement' therewith, in combination, supportmeans mounted on the carriage; elongated sheet guide means pivotally mounted on said support means for turning about'an axis parallel to theaxis of the platen, said sheet guide means being arranged'in front of the platen spaced therefrom and extending in the direction of the length thereof, said guide means being turnable about its pivot axis between a raised inoperative position with its lower edge spaced from said platen and a lowered operative position with its lower edge closely adjacent to the platen for guiding the bottom edge of a sheet placed between said guide means and the platen against and under the same so as toslide the sheet into writing position; first actuating means on said sheet guide means' movable therewith; second' actuating means fixed relative to the typewriter frame coacting with said first actuating means on said sheet guide means for turning said sheet guide means about its pivot axis automatically between the operative and inoperative positions thereof during movement of said sheet guide means with the carriage while the latter is being shifted; sheet carrier means mounted, on said support means above the platen rearward of said sheet guide means for carrying theupper portion of a sheet having its bottom edge placed between. said sheet guide. means and the platen, the. bottom edge. of said carrier means being disposed adjacent the upper front. portion of the platen; and sheet feed meanscomprising a pair of adjacent elongated roller membersmounted on said support means arranged adjacent and extending along the bottom edge of said sheet carrier means for conducting the sheet adapted to be carried by said carrier means between the platen and said sheet guide means.

7. In a typewriter having a frame, a shiftable carriage and a rotatable platen mounted on the carriage for movement therewith, in combination, support means mounted on r thecarriage; elongated sheet guide means. pivotally mounted onrsaid supportmeans for turning about anaxis parallel to the axis of the platen, said sheet-guide means being arranged in front of the platen spaced therefrom and-extending in the direction of the length thereof, said guide means being turnable about its pivot axis between araised inoperative positionwith its lower edge spaced from said platen anda lowered operative position with its lower edge closely adjacent to the platenfor guiding the bottomedge of' a-sheet placed between saidguide means and the platen against and under the same so as to slide the sheet. into writing position; first actuating means on said sheet guide means movable therewith; second actuating means fixed relativeto the-typewriter frame coacting with said first actuating means on said sheet guide means for turning said sheet guide means about its pivot axis automatically between the operative and inoperative positions thereof duringmovementof said sheet guide means with the carriage whilethe latter is being-shifted; sheet carrier means mounted onsaidsupport means above the platen rearward of, said sheet guide means for carrying the upper portion of a sheet having its bottom edge placedbetweensaid sheet guide means and the platen, the bottom edge of said carrier means being disposed adjacent the upper front'portion of the platen, said carriermeans being axiallymovable along the length of the platen for arranging a sheet adapted to be carried thereby in different writing positions axially spaced along the platen; and, sheet feed means comprising a pair of adja cent elongated-roller members mounted on said support means arranged adjacent. and extending along the bottom edge of said sheet carrier means for conducting the sheet adapted to be carried by said carrier means between the platen and said sheet guide'means'.

8; In a typewiter having a frame, a shiftable carriage and a rotatable platen mounted on the carriage for move ment therewith, in combination, support means mounted onthe. carriage; an elongated sheet guide plate pivotally mounted on said support means for turning about an axis paralleltothe axis of the platen, said sheet guide plate being. arranged in front of the platen spaced therefrom andextending in the direction of the length thereof, said guide plate being turuable about its pivot axisbetween a raised inoperativeposition with its lower edge spaced from. said .platen and a lowered operative position with its lower edge closely adjacent to the platen for guiding the bottom edge of a sheet placed between said. guide plate and the platen against and under the'same so. as to slide the sheet into writing position; cam means on said sheet guide plate movable'therewith; actuating means fixed relative to the typewriter frame coacting with said'cam means on said sheet guide plate for turning said sheet guide plate about its pivot axis automatically between theoperative and inoperative positions thereof during movement of said sheet guide plate with the carriage while the latter is being shifted; and sheet carrier means mounted on said support means above the platen rearward of said sheet guide plate for carrying the upper portion of a sheet having its bottom edge placed between said sheet guide plate and'the platen.

9 In a typewriter having a frame, a shiftable carriage and a rotatable platen-mounted on the carriage for movement therewith, in combination, support means mounted on. the carriage; an elongated sheet guide platepivotally mounted on said support means for turning about an axis parallel. to the axis of the platen, said sheet guide plate being arranged in front of the platen spaced therefrom and extending. in the. direction of thelength thereof, said guide plate being turnable about its pivot axis between a raised inoperative position with its lower edge spaced from said platen and a lowered operative position with its lower edge closely adjacent to the platen for guiding the bottom edge of a sheet placed between said guide plate and the platen against and under the same so as to slide the sheet into Writing position, the lower edge of said sheet guide plate being of stepped form and including a lower bottom edge portion, a higher bottom edge portion and a connecting edge portion extending between said bottom edge portions and arranged at obtuse angles thereto; an elongated member fixed relative to the typewriter frame arranged below and in contact with said stepped lower edge of said sheet guide plate and coacting there with for turning said sheet guide plate about its pivot axis automatically between the operative and inoperative positions thereof during movement of said sheet guide plate with the carriage while the latter is being shifted; and sheet carrier means mounted on said support means above the platen rearward of said sheet guide plate for carrying the upper portion of a sheet having its bottom edge placed between said sheet guide plate and the platen.

10. In a typewriter having a frame, a shiftable carriage and a rotatable platen mounted on the carriagefor movement therewith, in combination, support means mounted on the carriage; an elongated sheet guide plate pivotally mounted on said support means for turning about an axis parallel to the axis of the platen, said sheet guide plate being arranged in front of the platen spaced therefrom and extending in the direction of the length thereof, said guide plate being turnable about its pivot axis between a raised inoperative position with its lower edge spaced from said platen and a lowered operative position with its lower edge closely adjacent to the platen for guiding the bottom edge of a sheet placed between said guide plate and the platen against and under the same so as to slide the sheet into writing position, the lower edge of said sheet guide plate being of stepped form and including a lower bottom edge portion, a higher bottom edge portion and a connecting edge portion extending between said bottom edge portions and arranged at obtuse angles thereto; an elongated member fixed relative to the typewriter frame arranged below and in contact with said stepped lower edge of said sheet guide plate and coacting there with for turning said sheet guide plate about its pivot axis automatically between the operative and inoperative positions thereof during movement of said sheet guide plate with the carriage while the latter is being shifted; sheet carrier means mounted on said support means above the platen rearward of said sheet guide plate for carrying the upper portion of a sheet having its bottom edge placed between said sheet guide plate and the platen, the bottom edge of said carrier means being disposed adjacent the upper front portion of the platen, said carrier means being axially movable along the length of the platen for arranging a sheet adapted to be carried thereby in different writing positions axially spaced along the platen; and sheet feed means mounted on said support means arranged adjacent and extending along the bottom edge of said sheet carrier means for conducting the sheet adapted to be carried by said carrier means between the platen and said sheet guide plate.

ll. In a typewriter having a frame, a shiftable carriage and a rotatable platen mounted on the carriage for movement therewith, in combination, bracket means detachably secured to the carriage, said bracket means including a cross bar member arranged above and extending along the length of the platen and mounted on the carriage for pivoting about an axis parallel to the axis of the platen, said cross bar member being rollably supported on the platen; elongated sheet guide means pivotally mounted on said cross bar member of said detachable bracket means for turning about an axis parallel to the axis of the platen, said sheet guide means being arranged in front of the platen spaced therefrom and extending in the direction of the length thereof, said guide means being turnable about its pivot axis between a raised inoperative position with its lower edge spaced from said platen and a lowered operative position with its lower edge closely adjacent to the platen for guiding the bottom edge of a sheet placed between said guide means and the platen against and under the same so as to slide the sheet into writing position; first actuating means on said sheet guide means movable therewith; second actuating means fixed relative to the typewriter frame coacting with said first actuating means on said sheet guide means for turning said sheet guide means about its pivot axis automatically between the operative and inoperative positions thereof during movement of said sheet guide means with the carriage while the latter is being shifted; and sheet carrier means mounted on said cross bar member of said detachable bracket means above the platen rearward of said sheet guide means for carrying the upper portion of a sheet having its bottom edge placed between said sheet guide means and the platen.

12. In a typewriter having a frame, a. shiftable carriage and a rotatable platen mounted on the carriage for movement therewith, in combination, bracket means detachably secured to the carriage, said bracket means including a cross bar member arranged above and extending along the length of the platen and mounted on the carriage for pivoting about an axis parallel to the axis of the platen, said cross bar member being rollably supported on the platen; elongated sheet guide means pivotally mounted on said cross bar member of said detachable bracket means for turning about an axis parallel to the axis of the platen, said sheet guide means being arranged in front of the platen spaced therefrom and extending in the direction of the length thereof, said guide means being turnable about its pivot axis between a raised inoperative position with its lower edge spaced from said platen and a lowered operative position with its lower edge closely adjacent to the platen for guiding the bottom edge of a sheet placed between said guide means and the platen against and under the same so as to slide the sheet into writing position; first actuating means on said sheet guide means movable therewith; second actuating means fixed relative to the typewriter frame coacting with said first actuating means on said sheet guide means for turning said sheet guide means about its pivot axis automatically between the operative and inoperative positions thereof during movement of said sheet guide means with the carriage while the latter is being shifted; and sheet carrier means mounted on said cross bar member of said detachable bracket means above the platen rearward of said sheet guide means for carrying the upper portion of a sheet having its bottom edge placed between said sheet guide means and the platen, said carrier means being axially movable on said cross bar member along the length of the platen for arranging a sheet adapted to be carried thereby in dilferent writing positions axially spaced along the platen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,071,495 Yaw Aug. 26, 1913 1,743,655 Cooper Jan. 14, 1930 l,874,823 Smith Aug. 30, 1932 1,992,562 Zlabek Feb. 26, 1935 2,086,945 Pfeilfer July 13, 1937 2,107,397 Smith Feb. 8, 1938 2,204,243 Anderson lune 11, 1940 

